Effective Parent Councils: A constellation of factors...
EDER 619.10 L21Issues in Educational ManagementLEARNING TASK 2: Group Presentation
Welcome to our wiki presentation on Effective Parent Councils. Please use the links on the left sidebar menu to view the information gathered for this learning task.
Initial Thoughts/ Introduction to the topic of Effective Parent Councils:
The information regarding effective parent council groups is fractured, vague, and in many respects, shallow. Despite legislation requiring all publically funded Canadian schools to form parent advisory councils (see McKenna & Willms,1998, p.378), the research suggests that there is no overwhelming evidence supporting a correlation between parent council involvement in school and student achievement (see Corter & Pelletier, 2004; Pharis, Bass & Pate, 2005; Leithwood, Jantzi & Steinbach, 1998; Nygaard, 2010). However, Fullan (1997) notes that while the presence of school councils may not improve student achievement, "nothing motivates a child more than a climate in which learning is valued by a partnership of school, family and community" (as cited in Pharis, Bass & Pate, 2005, p.35).
Debates over the scope and capacity of effective parent councils aside, our group did agree that the metaphor, portraying a parent council as a constellation, is appropriate; "A constellation of school level factors appeared to support [parent] council’s work in schools" (Corter & Pelletier, 2004, p. 11). There is not one, shining star that is the answer to effective parent councils. Instead, it is a constellation of factors, similar in their support of more effective schools, disimilar in the factors making the parent council effective (as these draw heavily upon context).
Effective educational leaders and managers will find a balance of power that enables parent council groups and school staff to build capacity and support a caring community, while maintaining a focus on student learning.
EDER 619.10 L21Issues in Educational ManagementLEARNING TASK 2: Group Presentation
Welcome to our wiki presentation on Effective Parent Councils. Please use the links on the left sidebar menu to view the information gathered for this learning task.
Initial Thoughts/ Introduction to the topic of Effective Parent Councils:
The information regarding effective parent council groups is fractured, vague, and in many respects, shallow. Despite legislation requiring all publically funded Canadian schools to form parent advisory councils (see McKenna & Willms,1998, p.378), the research suggests that there is no overwhelming evidence supporting a correlation between parent council involvement in school and student achievement (see Corter & Pelletier, 2004; Pharis, Bass & Pate, 2005; Leithwood, Jantzi & Steinbach, 1998; Nygaard, 2010). However, Fullan (1997) notes that while the presence of school councils may not improve student achievement, "nothing motivates a child more than a climate in which learning is valued by a partnership of school, family and community" (as cited in Pharis, Bass & Pate, 2005, p.35).Debates over the scope and capacity of effective parent councils aside, our group did agree that the metaphor, portraying a parent council as a constellation, is appropriate; "A constellation of school level factors appeared to support [parent] council’s work in schools" (Corter & Pelletier, 2004, p. 11). There is not one, shining star that is the answer to effective parent councils. Instead, it is a constellation of factors, similar in their support of more effective schools, disimilar in the factors making the parent council effective (as these draw heavily upon context).
Effective educational leaders and managers will find a balance of power that enables parent council groups and school staff to build capacity and support a caring community, while maintaining a focus on student learning.